My Secret Playlist - Ben Lee

EACH week My Secret Playlist invites their favourite bands and musicians to give a rundown on eight of their favourite songs right now. Today's playlist comes from Australian singer-songwriter and eternal optimist, Ben Lee.

Noah and The Whale / Five Years Time
It’s a current fave. Everyone I know has this track on repeat right now. It feels like summer.

Bob Dylan / Mama You’ve Been On My Mind
The original demo Dylan did of this is available on the bootleg collection. This is one of my favourite Dylan songs. It’s about those moments when there is nothing else to say except ‘I’ve been thinking about you’. Moments of truth.

Narbalek / Bininj Wurdyaw
Narbalek are an Aboriginal rock band from Australia. This song is stunning. It’s about humid outback afternoons, when there is a thunderstorm and kids all start dancing in the rain.

Tom Jobim and Elis Regina / Aguas de Marco
The sexiest recording ever made. The sounds of playful lovemaking. I dare you not be in the mood after hearing this.
Stevie Nicks / Wild Heart (demo version)
Check this out on YouTube. Stevie Nicks backstage sharing the demo of her new song with her backup singers and make up artist. The final argument for why demos should not be messed with.

Hunters & Collectors / Throw Your Arms Around Me
An Australian anthem and a song that makes grown men weep and hold each other like schoolgirls. This is the Ben Harper and Eddie Vedder live version of the song.

Narayani Amma / Om Namo Narayani
A recording of the chant ‘om namo narayani’ that I listen to every day. It is a Hindu chant that loosely translates to ‘I surrender myself to nature’. Powerful stuff.